This is a guest post written by the wonderful Sarah Seppa RD who will give birth to an amazingly guiltless baby this fall!
The other day I opened my “pregnancy tracker” iPhone app and
the daily advice was to repeat this phrase, “I am not fat, I am not fat.” I looked down at my new bulging belly and
breasts thought, “I just thought I was pregnant.” Negative body image can be a problem for some
women during their pregnancies, and it’s no wonder. Not only is it all over the media, with
celebs being ridiculed for gaining more that the “recommended 25 pounds,” but
it is in the most commonly read pregnancy books as well.
From What to Expect When You are Expecting…
“Watching your weight gain isn’t the only way to give your
appearance an edge. Exercise will
definitely help by ensuring that the weight you do gain ends up in all the
right places.”
From The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy…
“…loving friends will reassure you that your face hasn’t
changed at all, and that from the back you don’t even look pregnant. They will say that you look healthier and
more beautiful than ever. THEY ARE
LYING!”
After being bombarded with all this information you may walk
into the world feeling a little discouraged about your body, then to top it
off, you have complete strangers groping your belly and commenting that, “you
don’t even look pregnant,” or, “OMG you are huge! You must be due last week!”
SO…What is a Guiltless girl to do? Here is my list for tips for a healthy body
image during pregnancy…
1) Start off your pregnancy feeling good. Beginning your pregnancy with a positive body
image is a huge help. If you struggle
with feelings about your body and negative self-talk before you get pregnant,
it is likely to get worse as you do gain weight. Talk to a counselor before you get pregnant
or very early on, so they can help you to deal with these feelings.
2) Take a prenatal yoga class. Prenatal yoga is not only good for you, but is
also good for baby. You will practice
breathing exercises and feel grounded and connected to the baby growing inside
you. You will also be surrounded by
other women whose bodies are changing in the same way as yours, unlike the
super lean women in the Lululemon with her legs behind her head.
3) Positive self talk is also a must. Things like, “I am gaining weight because I
am a good mother who is growing a healthy baby.”
4) Get some maternity clothes. No use trying to fit into your old
stuff. Pack it away and don’t even think
about it. There is nothing worse for
self-esteem than trying to button pants that don’t fit.
5) Talk to someone.
If you find that a negative body image is getting in the way of a safe
and healthy pregnancy, talk to your OB or midwife and have them refer you to a
licensed mental health counselor that specializes in body image.
Here's to a guiltless pregnancy!
This is amazing and I love it!
ReplyDeleteThe first reaction to early sign of pregnancy is disbelief, joy followed by a feeling of uncertainty. A visit to the doctor and a blood test is the only way to confirm your pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteBalance-D
It's lovely to have children, but unfortunately that comes with a price. Your body is never the same again. Unless you are naturally slim, you probably gained lots of weight during pregnancy, and it is hard to get rid of it. The secret is to love your body and then achieve your body image/weight that you want.
ReplyDeleteconceiving after miscarriage